The 1991 Major League Baseball amateur draft produced a remarkable crop of future Hall of Famers and all-time great players. Baseball card enthusiasts and collectors who picked up packs of 1991 Topps, Donruss, and Fleer baseball cards as kids had no idea the talent they were holding in their hands. Now, over 30 years later, those classic 1991 baseball draft pick cards have taken on immense value as some of the most prized vintage player collections.
In the first round of the 1991 draft, the Atlanta Braves selected Atlanta-area high school shortstop Chipper Jones with the first overall pick. A star for the Braves for his entire 19-year career, Jones went on to win an NL MVP award, make 8 All-Star teams, and be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018. Unsurprisingly, 1991 Topps Chipper Jones rookie cards have skyrocketed in value over the years. Near mint condition PSA 9 example cards recently sold for over $8,000 on the secondary market. Even well-worn PSA 5 rookie Jones cards in crappy shape still fetch over $100.
Another superstar from the 1991 draft class who exploded in value was Hall of Fame third baseman and 14-time All-Star Alex Rodriguez. As a 17-year-old shortstop out of high school in Miami, A-Rod was taken first overall by the Seattle Mariners. While his tenure in Seattle was relatively short, Rodriguez went on to have one of the greatest individual careers in MLB history playing for Texas and the Bronx Bombers. 1991 Topps Alex Rodriguez rookie cards in pristine PSA 10 condition are now considered Holy Grails for collectors, with unverified reports of some selling for $300,000 or more in private sales. Even well-centered PSA 8 Rodriguez rookies sell in the $10,000 range.
In addition to Jones and Rodriguez, here are some other notable draft picks and their 1991 rookie card values today:
Derek Jeter (6th overall by NYY): The longtime Yankees captain cemented his status as a singles-hitting machine and postseason legend. Pristine PSA 10 Jeter rookies are $10,000-15,000 cards, with most PSA 8s in the $2,000-4,000 range.
Nomar Garciaparra (5th overall by BOS): Though injuries derailed his career, Nomar looked like a future Hall of Famer during his peak Red Sox years. Nomar’s bowman chrome and topps rookie refractors can fetch $1,000+ in high grades.
Jason Giambi (9th overall by KC): Power-hitting first baseman won an MVP with Oakland and starred for the Yankees. Giambi rookie cards rarely top $100 even in PSA 10.
Javy López (22nd overall by ATL): All-Star catcher was a legendary slugger for the Braves and won two Silver Sluggers. His rookie cards are worth $50-150 on average.
Jason Varitek (14th overall by BOS): Durable backstop and captain led Sox to 2004/2007 titles. Varitek rookies are inexpensive at just $15-30 each.
Alfonso Soriano (36th overall by NYY): Speedy outfielder lashed 400 career HR. Soriano rookie cards can be found for under $10.
Paul Konerko (13th overall by CIN): Stud first baseman anchored White Sox lineups for years. Konerko rookie cards are less than $5 each.
The 1991 MLB draft was truly a special one that shaped the sport for decades. While not every pick panned out, stars like Chipper, A-Rod, Jeter, and Nomar burst onto the scene and defined baseball in the 1990s and 2000s. Their classic 1991 rookie cards remain some of the most prized baseball cardboard in existence. Though finding high-grade examples in pristine condition will cost a fortune, holding any mint copy from this epic draft class is a collectable feat on its own.
